ringwood manor iron complex 1740-1931

RINGWOOD
MANOR IRON COMPLEX
1740-1931
A NATIONAL HISTORIC
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LANDMARK
RINGWOOD STATE PARK
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
Ringwood, New Jersey
September 30, 1978
HISTORY OF RINGWOOD
According to existing records, the Boards and Ogdens
were the first to mine ore and produce iron at Ringwood. Corneluis Board, while prospecting for copper and other precious
metals, discovered many outcroppings of iron. He built a
forge at what is now Sterling Lake in Orange County, New York;
later he bought several tracts along the Ringwood River and in
1740 built a forge here.
At about the same time the Ogdens of Newark purchased
several tracts from the Boards and formed the Ringwood Company.
Evidence is mounting that the Ogdens named Ringwood and that
they were acquainted with Ringwood in Hampshire, England. In
1742 they built a blast furnace, thus becoming the first volume
producers of iron in this area. The Ringwood Company continued under the Ogdens until 1765 when they sold their properties
to the American Iron Company.
About one year prior to his arrival here, Peter Hasenclever had formed a large stockholding company with headquarters in London. The American Iron Company had subscribers
among nobility as well as members of the royal family in England and raised at least 40,000 pounds sterling. Upon arriving here in 1765, Hasenclever purchased the Ringwood Company
from the Ogdens. Being an aggressive businessman, he acquired
several other ironworks in New Jersey: Long Pond (now Hewitt)
and Charlotteburg, named for Queen Charlotte. In all, his
holdings in New Jersey numbered about 22,000 acres of land.
History of Ringwood
Page Two.
At this time he purchased the Cortlandt Furnace near Cortlandt, New York. He obtained some 33,000 acres in Crown
Point; 20,000 acres near the Mohawk Flatts; and almost 100,000
acres in Nova Scotia. Under Hasenclever the American Iron
Company, controlled from Ringwood, was the first to produce
iron in the Adirondacks at Crown Point, New York. He was in
close contact with Sir William Johnson and other colonial
greats.
While Hasenclever was engineering the largest colonial
business empire and probably the first conglomerate in America, things were not going well in England. Disheartened with
the lack of returns from America, some of the company's directors began to spend money in England. This, along with Hasenclever's 40,000 pounds expenditure here, almost brought about
the collapse of the company. It was enough to raise much distrust about Hasenclever's integrity. Thus one of the most
colorful and brilliant ironmasters associated with Ringwood
was recalled to England to face charges of mismanagement of
company funds. In his defense he petitioned New Jersey's Royal
Governor Franklin (Benjamin Franklin's son) to inspect the
American Iron Company's holdings in the province of New Jersey.
In 1768 the Franklin Committee listed the innovative achievements of Peter Hasenclever:
He is also the first we know of, who has rendered
the old cinder-beds of the furnaces useful and
profitable; for, at Ringwood, he has erected a
stamping-mill to separate the waste iron from the
cinders...which is as good as the best pig iron.
He has also made a great improvement in the construction of the furnaces, by building the in-
History of Ringwood
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walls of slate; which, ...will, in all probability, last many years; whereas the stones
commonly made use of for that purpose, seldom
stood longer than a year or two, and would
often fail in the middle of a blast.
(Ransom, J.M. 1966. Vanishing Ironworks of
the Ramapos. Rutgers University Press, New
Brunswick, New Jersey. p. 23.)
Also included in his achievements is the construction of
an 860' long dam across the northern outlet of Tuxedo Lake
(New York) in 1765. This forced the water to flow south to
Ringwood along what is believed to be the first canal in America. Thus a constant supply of water was guaranteed to power
the waterwheels of Ringwood.
Peter Hasenclever, in his defense, published The Remark-
able Case of Peter Hasenclever, Merchant in London in 1773.
In 1771 he was replaced by Robert Erskine who arrived at Ringwood in July of that year. The writer hastens to inform his
readers that Peter Hasenclever was exonerated of all charges
after his death in Germany.
After their experience with Hasenclever, the Ringwood
Company was reluctant to advance any credit to Robert Erskine;
however, he was given freedom to raise capital and sell the
holdings here. Following several unsuccessful attempts at
selling the properties, Erskine decided to try things on his
own. He demonstrated his ability to be equal to the task, for
once again he had the ironworks producing, although not on the
scale envisioned by Hasenclever.
In 1774 the colonies were beginning to react to the attempts by England to raise money through oppressive taxation
History of Ringwood
Page Four.
to pay for the French and Indian War which had ended in 1765.
Erskine, correctly reading the trends, began to warn the company in England that the government should reconsider her
policy. The crisis worsened; and in April 1775 hostilities
were opened between the mother country and her colonies.
Records show that Robert Erskine, rightly anticipating this,
took steps to be ready in any eventuality. He raised an Independent Company of Militia to protect the ironworks against
anyone.
Although Erskine outwardly sided with the colonists, believing their cause to be just, he nevertheless immediately
informed the company that he would do everything to maintain
the integrity of their vast American holdings for them.
During these times of armed conflict Erskine's mechanical
talents were demonstrated, for prior to being hired by the
Ringwood Company, Erskine had experience in England as a hy-
draulic engineer and a surveyor. On 18 July 1776 he proposed
a marine "Chevaux de Frise", which is believed to be one of
the first serious proposals to permanently stop the Hudson
River to all British navigation. Although Erskine's design
was not used, a Chevaux de Frise was placed at Fort Washington,
Jeffrey's Hook, and between Polopel's Island and the west shore
of the Hudson north of Cornwall. The Chevaux de Frise was also
proposed to Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia, who was instru-
mental in having it placed in the Delaware River. Erskine was
well known to Franklin, because six years earlier, while in
England, Franklin was a signatory on the petition endorsing
History of Ringwood
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Erskine to membership in the Royal Society:
After Washington personally had recommended him to the
Continental Congress, Robert Erskine was appointed to the post
of Geographer and Surveyor General by General Washington in
1777. Simeon De Witt was his assistant. Following his appointment, Erskine drew upwards of 275 maps covering the northern sector of the war. Also, at this time he kept the Ringwood
furnaces producing much needed iron products for the army. As
a result of catching a fever in the field, Erskine contracted
pneumonia and died at Ringwood 2 October 1780. Robert Erskine,
son of the Rev. Ralph Erskine, lies buried under a table tomb
in the cemetery here at Ringwood Manor. What Erskine did here
during the tempestuous times of the American Revolution preserved the properties of the American Iron Company intact.
Mrs. Erskine married Robert Lettis Hooper and later removed to the Trenton area after gaining agency rights from the
New Jersey legislature to administer the affairs of the ironworks. The writer believes the American Iron Company still
retained title until 1806.
In 1807, a little over 25 years past Erskine's death, the
properties in Ringwood were sold to Martin J. Ryerson; and in
the 1830's, some 50 years after 1780, the American Iron Company's lands at Crown Point on Lake Champlain were sold.
Presently the properties are known as Ironville in Crown Point
and are run by the Penfield Foundation.
Martin Ryerson having purchased the property in 1807, began the construction of the present house. What happened to
History of Ringwood
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the original dwelling is presently an unanswered question.
Like his predecessor, Erskine, Ryerson also produced iron
for a war-he made round shot for the U.S. armed services
during the War of 1812. Martin Ryerson owned the Pompton
Furnace as well. After his death in 1832, his sons took over
the iron production; however, hard times and poor business
acumen forced them to sell the properties at Ringwood in 1854.
The vast Ringwood property and Long Pond, by this time a
celebrated ironworks, were sold to the firm of Cooper Hewitt
and Company, whose principal shareholder was Peter Cooper of
New York. It was Abram S. Hewitt who negotiated for Peter
Cooper to buy the properties from the Ryersons.
In 1855 (6 April) Abram S. Hewitt married Sarah Amelia
Cooper, after which they moved to Trenton, New Jersey, where
their first daughter, Amelia, was born in February 1856. The
following spring they moved to Ringwood, making it their permanent address.
Cooper Hewitt and Company continued to grow until it became the fifth largest corporation in the United States. It
produced iron beams (the first for buildings), the U.S. Capitol
dome, very many war products for the Union Armies during the
Civil War (including mortar beds and special steel for rifles
and muskets), steel-covered iron railroad rails, and wire used
in the manufacture of cables for great suspension bridges. Mr.
Hewitt was the foremost ironmaster of the 19th century in America. Cooper Hewitt was never faced with a successful strike
by their labor force.
History of Ringwood
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Restrained by Peter Cooper from going west where the industry was moving, Abram S. Hewitt went into politics. He
was a one-term mayor of New York City (1887-1888), was twelve
years a Congressman from New York (1875-1887), and in the
famous election of 1876 was the Democratic National Chairman.
Grover Cleveland once remarked: "If I knew half as much as
Abram S. Hewitt, I might amount to something." This trusted
adviser to President Grover Cleveland-this last ironmaster at
Ringwood—Abram S. Hewitt, died in New York in January 1903
at the age of 81.
The properties went to Mrs. Hewitt, who at her death in
1912, willed them to the two unmarried daughters, Sarah C. and
Eleanor G. Hewitt. After the daughters' deaths, The Forges
and Manor of Ringwood was willed to Erskine Hewitt who, in
turn, deeded the properties amounting to several hundred acres
to the State of New Jersey in 1936. It is since that time
that one of America's most colorful and historical estates has
been maintained as an historic site and state park.
SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE FORGES AND MANOR OF RINGWOOD
It was under the Hewitt's that Ringwood changed from a
celebrated ironworks to one of this country's foremost family
seats. Shortly after his marriage to Peter Cooper's daughter,
Sarah Amelia, Abram listed his net worth at around $300,000.
This figure was quite comfortable for the 1850's and is substantial for a young man in his early thirties. Attendant
with wealth can be the great social responsibility of frequent
entertaining. And since the Hewitt's loved to entertain, it
was done on a grand scale. Thus they acquired many friends
and acquaintances; and word quickly spread about their wonderful hospitality. In later years Mr. Hewitt engaged in politics; and so, of course, they were entertaining a large number
of politically influential people. Because of this, the
Forges and Manor of Ringwood became known as the second White
House.
Beginning in 1876 the Hewitt's kept a guest book in the
Great Hall for their friends and acquaintances to sign. These
pages reveal the fact that life at Ringwood was indeed good.
One sees an evolution from just plain signatures to elaborate
watercolors and great poetry. The books contain the signatures of many important people from all walks of life. Included are Hiram Maxim, the inventor of the machine gun, and
Bill Cody, who wrote in 1894:
Gentlemen & Ladies,
This looks dreadful easy
but it's terrible hard
Col. W. F. Cody
(Buffalo Bill)
Page Two.
Social History
The books also document when family members were at Ringwood: Peter Cooper - July 4, 1878; S. C. Hewitt, Amy B. Hewitt, Sarah A. Hewitt, and Nellie Hewitt were all here on March
9, 1878.
Some guests wrote poetry:
Ringwood, it was a happy day
When to thy vale I came,
And tho' I needs must pass away
I still will leave my name.
He smiles not, who in solemn mood
Has read a gravestone's tale
Although the words be queer and rude,
His sorrow must prevail.
And ye who scan these senseless rhymes
Restrain your rising laugh.
Nay, rather weep. Of happy times
They are the epitaph.
Ernest H. Crosby
Ringwood Oct. 6, 1877
Guests were also encouraged to try their hands at painting
or drawing. Thus the guest books are a collection of signatures, photos, drawings and poetry, which are an ample testimony to a life of love, leisure and good times.
Edward Ringwood Hewitt recounts many experiences here in
his books. Samuel Tilden, Democratic candidate for President
in 1876, was a guest of Mr. Hewitt, who was Democratic National
Chairman at the time. The boys had made a fast slide on the
dry grass down the steep hill behind the Manor and offered Mr.
Tilden a ride, which he accepted. He was badly tumbled when
the slide stopped suddenly at the bottom. Though roughed up
a bit, Mr. Tilden was otherwise unhurt. For this the boys were
scolded.
Social History
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A typical guest arriving at Ringwood probably would have
been shown into the guest entrance where a servant would hang
his coat in the cloakroom. Then he would be shown into the
Great Hall where the butler offered him a carton of cigarettes
or cigars boxed in mahogany. Undoubtedly he then would be
greeted by Mrs. Hewitt and be given tea. Time would be passed
in complete relaxation, conversation and afternoon teas over
which topics such as politics or a new play might be discussed.
Victorian Period amusements were walking, riding, driving
(Mr. Hewitt had over 40 miles of private drives), boating on
Sally's Pond, tennis, croquet, fishing and shooting in season.
Notable Americans and foreigners could be found
chatting on the lawn flanked by the chain and
mortar, and the place provided a combination of
gaiety and intellectual interests more characteristic of English country places than American. (Nevins, A. 1977. Abram S. Hewitt.
p. 547.)
During the 1870's and 1880's guests often included suitors
for the Hewitt daughters, as is evidenced by several incidents
recounted by E. R. Hewitt. However, the only Hewitt daughter
to marry was Amy (Amelia), who married Dr. James O. Green of
Kentucky. Both sons, Edward Ringwood and Peter Cooper, married.
Driving was a favorite Victorian pastime. The stable and
carriage house being very well appointed and very formal, were
almost as impressive as the big house. In later years Miss
Sally would call for her carriage by using a horn; and the tune
played indicated which vehicle and horses she wished. She was
also a very accomplished horsewoman.
Since the Manor was close to Tuxedo Park— a famous club
Social History
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community formed by the Lorillard family—many of these people
were entertained here.
Occasionally around Christmas the Hewitt's would arrange
a party at Ringwood when the time would be passed in the winter
sports. However, the house remained a summer home; and the
season here usually ended in October.
Thus as one peruses the history and evolution of Ringwood,
one is impressed with the intriguing mechanical developments
and important inventions which worked to secure Ringwood an
important place in the successful industrial revolution in the
United States.
We are indeed grateful to the A.S.M.E. for recognizing
Historic Ringwood Manor.
ROBERT ERSKINE: A SHORT HISTORY
In 1770 Robert Erskine was engaged by the American Iron
Company to manage their vast holdings at Ringwood and other
areas. He was a trained engineer and surveyor, fully experienced in hydraulics, being a builder of pumps.
Not being experienced with the manufacture of iron and
other activities related to it, he received a crash course by
visiting the major ironworks of England and Wales. This being
a learning experience, Erskine took many notes and wrote letters to the "home office" outlining the many steps in iron
production from iron ore to finished products. He requested
that these letters be saved for future reference. The letters
are a complete commentary of 18th century iron production and,
as such, are very important. They also demonstrate that Erskine took his job seriously and was given to meticulous detail.
On 18 October 1770 Robert Erskine wrote from Chester, England, near the Welsh border, after observing the ironworks of
Mr. Wilkinson near Wrexham, Wales. A study of this letter reveals that Mr. Erskine compliments and takes note of good and
efficient operations as well as comments about inefficient
ones. However, when he sees a problem, he actively proposes
a remedy for it so that he does not make the same mistake.
Thus one sees in Erskine a man who is not content to just complain about a problem, but also to remedy the situation. This
characteristic, frequently evident in Erskine's letters, is
Robert Erskine
Page Two.
the mark of a leader. In his letter from Chester Erskine documents the operations of several furnaces and indicates an
operation he felt was unique to each one. Evidence of his
surveying interest is also revealed when he writes: "I have
got acquainted with one Mr. Perry of Liverpool, a Surveyor,
who has likewise some iron works in this Country..."
Also in the same letter he describes the casting of cannon for the Emperor of Morocco who had ordered fifty eighteen
pounders, one of which Erskine witnessed being cast.
The entire letter is as follows:
Robert Erskine
Page Three.
Robert
Page Four.
Robert Erskine
Page Five.
GUIDE TO RINGWOOD MANOR GROUNDS
On the grounds around the manor house are a number of
interesting objects. These were collected by the Hewitt
family and placed as ornaments and reminders of historic
events or demonstrations of the ironmonger's art.
Located in an impressive avenue of columnar cedar trees
are twelve torcheres from Colonnade Row, Lafayette Place, New
York City. The statue in this section came from France. It
represents "Europe" and originally stood at the Bishop's
Palace in Avignon.
The gates visible on the west side of the parking area
were originally from the residence of Charles William Cooper
located on Twenty-first Street, New York City.
Proceeding along the path from the parking area, one sees
four architectural stone heads. These are sand stone and mark
the four corners of the former tennis court. These are believed to also come from New York.
Continuing down the path and looking to the right one
sees six marble columns. These columns were taken from the
old New York Life Insurance Building when that structure was
torn down.
Along the driveway which leads under the porte cochere
are superb examples of ornamental wrought iron lamps. These
are of special interest in the bicentennial era since they are
three of four lamps used to light the statue of King George,
the third, in Bowling Green, New York City.
Guide
Page Two.
The porte cochere was designed by the eminent architect,
Stanford White, who was a personal friend of the Hewitt family.
The Adams Style gates opposite the pine tree stood originally
in front of the Royal Governor's House on Bowling Green in New
York.
In front of the house on top of the slope are many objects
depicting eras of Ringwood's history. Starting at the right
are a hammer, anvil and cogwheel from Long Pond Iron Works,
which were used during the Colonial era. These were obtained
from the Wanaque River and placed to represent Ringwood's
Revolutionary War iron production (1775–1783). The great chain,
while not part of the original, represents the West Point chain.
The mortar was used in the attack on Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River which opened the way for the siege at Vicksburg.
This represents Ringwood's role during the Civil War (1861-1864).
It is one of thirty mortars for which Mr. Hewitt developed and
built the supporting beds. President Lincoln in a personal
letter had requested the job to be completed in three months.
Mr. Hewitt completed the order in twenty-six days. The mortar
had a range of two and one-half miles. The small cannon is one
of two deck guns from the U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides)
when she defeated the British frigate, "Guerriere". This piece
represents the role Ringwood played in producing iron for the
War of 1812. The other items are parts of machinery used at
forges and other aspects of iron manufacture.
The large pond to the west of the house was created in
1895 by Mrs. Hewitt who said that while she could not paint a
Page Three.
Guide
picture, she could create one.
The gates seen on the west lawn mark the road bed laid
by General Greene, which passed in front of the house and
went from West Point to Morristown. The gates originally
stood on the former Columbia College campus, then located at
Forty-ninth Street and Madison Avenue. Mr. Hewitt, an alumnus
and benefactor of Columbia, obtained them for his estate at
Ringwood when they moved to their present location in Morningside Heights.
The fountain in the small pool to the west of the house
rests on a grinding millstone and is from Versailles.
At the back entrance is a volute similar to the one at
the front entrance (on the Ryerson side). These were handcarved by De Launitz, father-in-law of Daniel Chester French.
The two stone tables on the piazza are millstones from Padua.
Also, to the left of the well are a set of tuyers and a lintle
(baffle bar) from the Wanaque Furnace. The well was reportedly
dug by Robert Erskine and is known as Erskine's well. It
reaches a depth of nearly 60' with the last 15' dug into solid
rock. The well head is marble (pink veronia) carved in the
15th century and is Venetian. The wrought iron ornament on
both sides of the entrance are from Greenwich Street, New York
City.
The marble garden benches, neopolitan copies of old pompeian benches, were a wedding anniversary present from Mr. Hewitt to Mrs. Hewitt. Also in the entrances to the formal gardens
are sphinxes copied from originals in the Louvre and are like-
Guide
Page Four.
nesses of Mme. de Pompadour and Mme. du Barry.
The wrought iron lanterns flanking the sphinxes are two
hundred years old and are from Bowling Green in New York City.
The yew tree to the left of the large staircase is from seed
of trees grown at Bey Ler Bey Palace, Constantinople, Turkey,
and were a gift of Sultan Abdul Hamid.
At the center of the retaining wall is a fountain taken
from Venice. Carved in the 16th century, the figures represent
a procession of Tritons.
Proceeding through the gates, one finds a log cabin. This
was used as a play house when the children were young; in later
years it was used as a tea house.
The large terraced area was formerly the formal vegetable
garden. The greenhouse formerly had a large variety of plants
including vines of muscatel grapes which were a gift of Sir
William Cunard who had received cuttings from the Spanish royal
family when he opened a shipping route from England to Spain.
Peter Hasenclever
Peter Hasenclever engineered possibly the first conglomerate in America.
On the top right, the present water wheel near the site of Hasenclever's
Forge. Bottom, the oldest building at Ringwood.
Molten iron flowed from furnace into pig beds (top). Iron being worked
at a forge using a trip hammer.
Above, an ore separator which was commonly used. Below, a closeup of the
trip hammer and anvil base used in the forges.
Peter Cooper, right, and Abram S. Hewitt, left, based themselves at Ringwood
where they founded and built their large corporation. Below, Ringwood about
1875. It is probably the second of the manor houses built on this site.
Many famous guests were
entertained in the drawing room and the dining
(right) and music (bottom) rooms.
Ringwood was also conducive to boating, fishing, shooting, and hiking
for its owners and guests. Below, one of the old blacksmith shops.